SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - After a delay of over an hour and a venue change that brought the Union women's soccer team away from their normal home of College Park Field, the Garnet Chargers defeated Bard at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium, 3-0.
 
After torrential rain hammered the Union College campus and the Schenectady area throughout the day Saturday, it was decided College Park Field was unplayable just minutes before the scheduled 2:00 gametime and would be moved to Bailey Field once the ongoing field hockey game was completed.
 
Kickoff occurred at 3:15, and the Garnet Chargers controlled from the jump. Union outshot Bard 11-0 in the opening half, including an 8-0 upper hand in shots on goal. First-year Delaney McNinch got things started in the 30th minute, heading home a senior Meg Piser corner to give the hosts the 1-0 lead.
 
Four plus minutes later, Piser doubled the lead- from the same spot. The senior miraculously found the back of the net, sending the ball into play on the corner, curling in a left-footed "shot" and taking advantage of the windy conditions for her first goal of the season.
 
First-year Taylor Bovardi added her second goal of the season for good measure in the 58th minute, firing a shot over the goalkeeper on the run from well outside the 18-yard box to provide the final score.
 
In the contest, Union outshot Bard 18-2, with a 12-2 tally of shots on goal. Union also registered six corner kicks in the contest, compared to just one from Bard. 
 
With the win, the Garnet Chargers improve to 6-3-2 and 2-1-1 in the Liberty League, tied for fourth in the League with seven points. They'll face arguably the largest challenge of their 2023 schedule next weekend, when they hit the road to face Ithaca, currently second in the League standings, and William Smith, currently third, on back-to-back days. They start by taking on the Bombers on Friday at 4:00 PM.